Welfare labeling on food products is inconsistent and often misleading, making it difficult for consumers to make informed choices about animal welfare.
Food labeling remains one of the most significant barriers to consumer-driven welfare improvement. Without clear, verified labels, consumers cannot make informed choices even when they want to. Terms like humane, natural, and free-range are used freely on products from animals raised in conditions consumers would not consider humane. Third-party certification schemes provide more meaningful guarantees but are expensive for producers and confusing for consumers given the proliferation of different logos. Mandatory, standardized welfare tier labeling would enable meaningful consumer choice and market pressure for improvement.